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I would agree with Rod that a hearing test isn't essential unless you think your dog is going deaf. Oliver had his first BAER 2 years ago, when he was clearly having problems in one ear. His second test last May was to see how things were going, and his deafness in both ears has increased. This is useful information, as I now know that he won't hear me calling his name when he is off-lead, but he can still hear clapping to get his attention and then I am using more hand signals to call him in. But if your dog isn't showing any signs of deafness (Oliver's first sign was if he was lying on his good ear in bed, he wouldn't hear me coming into the room), there isn't much point in having a BAER (especially if you have to pay for it!).

Because you want to compete with your dog, I recommend hip, elbows, patella. And you will want to get the heart checked annually because of the breed. Personally I wouldn't do any other testing beyond those four. And if your dog was only to be a house dog I would only recommend heart and patella.

I had no clue such health clinics existed or where I would even get this testing done on him until a few days ago. The one really close to me only has hearts and eyes. There are others in November and December that are doing all the rest. I'll have to get him scheduled for one of those.

Me either, well I knew they had health clinics but I guess I didn't realize I could take advantage of them too. Fletcher is only 5 months old, I use a great vet but qualified specialists at these clinics would be much better over-all care for him. That sounds like an excellent choice for me. Should I wait until he is over a year old? I know heart for MDV is a must but what else, eyes, patellas???? Any specialists info would only be beneficial so I guess do what I can when I can?

... Should I wait until he is over a year old? I know heart for MDV is a must but what else, eyes, patellas???? Any specialists info would only be beneficial so I guess do what I can when I can?

I recommend the heart and eye exams, which are the most common at health clinics. Waiting until the dog is a year old makes sense, because heart issues rarely show up prior to the first birthday. Eye exams could be performed earlier, because if the dog has a vision problem, the earlier that it is diagnosed, the better.

If you plan on training your dog for athletic events, like agility, I would have him checked out structurally, and certainly hip, elbow, and shoulder x-rays would provide a lot of that type of information.

I recommend the heart and eye exams, which are the most common at health clinics. Waiting until the dog is a year old makes sense, because heart issues rarely show up prior to the first birthday. Eye exams could be performed earlier, because if the dog has a vision problem, the earlier that it is diagnosed, the better.

If you plan on training your dog for athletic events, like agility, I would have him checked out structurally, and certainly hip, elbow, and shoulder x-rays would provide a lot of that type of information.

Thanks for the tip, its a good one. There is a cavalier show in my area every March, so I need to look out for that one. Fletcher will be 13 months old then, sounds perfect and getting to met other cavalier's too extra fun.

The BAER hearing test simply involves the dog wearing earphones attached to a computer that sends a noise through the ears and then plots the results on a graph that looks like an ECG. So they have to be awake and alert for that. It doesn't take long, and Oliver looked like Snoopy as the Red Baron in the earphones!

Kate, Oliver and Aled

I think they actually can do it sedated, but I don't think it's full sedation. I actually know a bit more about the process in humans, as I work with a boy with disabilities who will be having this type of testing (he can't do a hearing test that requires him to respond). They tried it once, and he wouldn't leave the ear phones in place. We're teaching him to wear ear phones, and hopefully he will keep them in next time so he can be tested without sedation (which is what they will do if he won't leave them alone).
Based on what this says, sedation must be a possibility. http://www.lsu.edu/deafness/baersite.htm

I was thinking show because the one next month is a show. You're right, those other two are clinics. He'll probably go to the cavalier one anyway though since I think it's a bit closer, and that other one I think there's a flyball tournament he might be ready to race in that weekend.

Rod, I think that photo originated at Chestergates and it's Oliver with me behind him! When he had his first BAER they took some photos for use in publicity.

I think sedation probably depends on how placid the dog is. If its going to frantically try to claw off the headphones, the test wouldn't be possible without mild sedation. You can do anything with Oliver, so he just sat there looking bored...